Re: Harpers in Harper's Ferry
HARPER, COPPERNOLL, BUTLER, BRENNAN
Posted By: Ted Harper (email) In Response To: Re: Harpers in Harper's Ferry (David Harper)
Date: 10/26/2005 at 12:58:23
David -
A connection between your Harper line and the one running through Harper's Ferry, IA, is possible, and very interesting if it exists. (I'm assuming your father was not talking about Harper's Ferry, WV.) More information on your line from Maine, and their migration across the Atlantic, would be helpful. Here's what I have.
My Harper line (the one going through David Harper of Harper's Ferry) began with Samuel Harper born around 1795 and Mary (Reed) Harper born 3 Mar 1795, both in northern Ireland. Although most Scots-Irish Harpers were in County Antrim, family lore places the birth of Samuel Jr. "near Londonderry", which could mean Antrim or closer in County Derry. Samuel and Mary had ten children, all apparently before leaving Ireland. They came to America around 1835-1837, apparently to Canada. I and other researchers have been unable to locate their arrival, which I have ascribed to the fact that the Canadian Customs House in New Brunswick later caught fire and records of passenger arrivals in that period were lost.
I have recently found information that suggests that they may have arrived in Quebec, or spent some time in Quebec. They may also have visited or spent time in Maine.
After arrival from Ireland they stayed in Canada for about a year, then entered the US. They appear to have arrived at Monroe, MI around 1886. Canada was a principal arrival point for European immigrants headed for the US Midwest, and Samuel and Mary apparently came down the Great Lakes path like many other Irish immigrants. They settled on the border of Michigan and Ohio.
Identified children of Samuel and Mary include:
David b 1819
Samuel (Jr.) b 1824
James Wesley b 1828
Eliza Jane b 1830-1831
Adam b 1834This leaves five unidentified, who could have been born between about 1812 (when Mary was 17 - we don't have a marriage date) and 1834. Some of these may have "peeled off" during the trip to the Midwest, staying in Canada or perhaps in Maine.
There is an Elizabeth Harper, apparently widowed, of similar age to Samuel and Mary, who shows up in Monroe, MI about the same time Samuel and Mary arrive. I have her tentatively tagged (for no other good reason) as a sister-in-law of Samuel (that is, widow of a brother of Samuel) travelling with them. Her presence makes tracking other possible children of Samuel and Mary a bit more difficult. In the same area of Michigan/Ohio, at the same time (1840-1850), are a couple of other Harpers who were clearly related to David, but may have been cousins (that is, children of Elizabeth) rather than siblings. These were
William b 1816
John b 1815-1820
both born in Ireland.David picked up a wife in Adrian, MI and moved to Winfield, IA (which became Harper's Ferry) around 1852.
Let me know if this seems to lead to any hits. I have lots more information on these family members in Michigan and Ohio, as well as descendants of David Harper.
- Ted
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